Machine tool control mechanism



MACHINE TOOL CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Dec. 17, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.1

1N VEN TOR. HERMAN HORLAOHEH A? T TORNEYS Dec. 7, 1954 H. HORLACHER MACHINE TOOL CONTROL MECHANISM 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 17, 1949 IN VEN TOR. HERMAN HORLA? QHER W, 210% YZZWW flTTORNEYS Dec. 7, 1954 H. HORLACHER MACHINE TOOL CONTROL MECHANISM 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 17, 1949 Rw .5 m m U 1 A MM a? w n -1 DBO Dec. 7', 1954 H. HORLACHER MACHINE TOOL CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Dec. 17. 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 rimm rii :ili

T" IL- ATTORNEYS 1386- 1954 H. HORLACHER MACHINE TOOL CQNTROL MECHANISM 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 17, 1949 a mmfg y Dec. 7, 1954 H. HORLACHER MACHINE TOOL CONTROL MECHANISM 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Dec. 17, 1949 any;

M4 i /Z/ I NVEN TOR.

HER/IAN HU/PL/JCHER Fig. E3

14 TTORNEYS Dec. 7; 1954 H. HORLACHER 2,696,145

MACHINE TOOL CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Dec. 17, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 "Q INVENTOR. HERMAN HORLH CHER A 7' TORNEYS 3 portion as at 55 adapted alternatively to couple groove 1 or groove 53 by way of groove 56 and conduit 57 to piston cylinder or chamber 58 in the reversing box 59. Similarly, plunger 43 has a reduced portion or cannelure 68 adapted alternatively to couple groove 50 or groove 54- by way of groove 61 and conduit 62 to the piston cylinder or chamber 63 in the reversing box 59.

As shown in Figure 5, both plungers 42 and 43 are normally urged into extended position by the springs 64 and 65 respectively so that their terminal portions project at the inner face of the block 38. These plungers, see Figures 3 and 7, are at different horizontal levels, the plunger 42 being at the upper level for engagement with the dog 66 and the plunger 43 at a lower level for engagement by the dog 67. Due to this location, each dog is individual to a particular plunger for determination of its operation. With the parts in the position indicated in Figures 3 and 4, for example, movement of the table toward the left as viewed in Figure 1, will cause dog 66 to contact and depress plunger 42. Under nor mal conditions the plunger 42 is pressed outwardly by spring 64 so that groove 56 is coupled by way of groove 53, conduit 167 and groove 54 to the exhaust or reservoir conduit system 68. On depression of the plunger however, its inward movement will close off communication with groove 53 and open communication by way of cannelure 55 and groove 51 from pressure line 46 through 57 to chamber 58. This action will project the reversing piston or plunger 70 into engagement with the adjustable abutment 71 on rocker 72 carried by shaft 30, causing the member 72 to assume the position as shown in Figure 8. This reacts through the member 28 on the conventional transmission of the machine effecting a reversal of the table operative effect of the transmission so that it will move in the opposite or left hand direction. If it is desired that the machine simply stop at the selected point in place of reversing, the pin 73 is turned by the knurled head 74 to move the lock stud 75 into alignment with slot 76 in the cap plate 77. When so shifted, spring 78 will tend to move the pin inward from the position of the parts above designated at the bottom of Figure 8 to the position shown of the corresponding parts at the upper portion of Figure 8. This Will project the abutment or stop 79 in the path of collar 80 on plunger 70, limiting the extent of its inward movement to the position diagrammatically indicated in Figure 2. Such limited movement will cause a disconnection or stoppage of the table drive at the trip determined point.

Reaction of plunger 43 on the reversing piston or plunger 81 corresponds to that just described in connection with plunger 70. Depression of the plunger 43 couples pressure conduit 46 by way of groove 50, plunger groove 60 and conduit 62 to chamber 63 to effect inward movement of the plunger 81, contacting abutment 82 on rocker 72 and moving control shaft 30 in the reverse direction to that effected by piston plunger 70. As shown in Figure 8, the abutment 79 is so positioned as to engage the collar 83 on plunger 81, so that with this adjustment the member 72 may be rocked only to a stop position.

Light springs 84 and 85 bear against the plungers 70 and 81 to hold same outwardly toward the respective abutments 71 and 82. This outward movement is normally limited by the interposed heavier compressing springs 184 and 185 which are so arranged in opposition to the springs 84 and 85 that the plungers 70 and 81 will normally occupy the intermediate position indicated in Figure 2, at which they are stabilized between the respective springs and with the pressure couplings as indicated in Figure 2. It is only when the stops or abutments 79 are withdrawn and the plungers or pistons are hydraulically actuated that the springs 184 or 185 are compressed so that the plungers may be projected to reversing position as is indicated with respect to plunger 70 in Figure 8. The movement of clutch shifter rod 28 accentuated and controlled by the customary load and fire detent mechanism, such as shown in U. S. Letters Patent 2,101,544, for completing movement initiated by handle 29 of the plungers 70 and 81 in rocking the member 72 to either left hand or right hand feed positions or retaining it in intermediate neutral.

Screw plugs, such as 87, 88, 89, and 90, at the outer face of the valve block 38 and the reverser block 59 serve asclosures for the respective plunger bores to retain theassociate parts including plunger actuating springs inproper position.

It will be understood that the mechanism just described in itself constitutes a complete operable entity readily applicable to existing milling machines or other machine tools, and when employed provides a sensitive readily operated hydraulic plunger mechanism freely movable by a properly set control dog on the moving machine tool element, requiring slight pressure for its actuation but by its movement coupling a source of hydraulic power to the auxiliary hydraulic shifting mechanism to effect a rapid power reaction on the mechanical shifting devices to effect accurate stopping or reversal of the table or other machine tool element. The nature of the attachment is such that this accurate response will be repetitive at all times at the same point in the table stroke and thus extreme accuracy of work piece production may be easily attained.

In addition to the feature of accuracy of stopping or reversing the table, it is frequently desirable that employment be made of rapid traverse movements, either in approach of the work to the tool, in movement between one work piece and another as when intermittent milling operations are being performed, or in return of the finished work to removal and loading position. Many machine tools are now equipped with mechanism for effecting such rapid traverse movements by hand control at the will of the operator. It is, therefore, further a purpose of the present invention to provide in connection with the structure just described a cooperating rapid traverse control mechanism so that by joint employment of the two mechanisms different and varied automatic cycles of operation may be effected dependent on dog positionings, as for alternate feed and rapid traverse movements in a single direction, feed in one direction, rapid traiierse in the other, or both in a continuous automatic cyc e.

For attainment of this result there is shown as secured to the saddle 20 a fitting 91 supporting a sleeve 92 in alignment with the rapid traverse plunger 32. Within the sleeve is a piston 93 coupled by piston rod 94 with the rod 32 so that upward movement of the piston 93 in sleeve 92 Will shift the feed-rapid traverse selector clutch of the machine to couple a rapid traverse drive (not shown) with the table or translatable member. Formed in the lower end of the sleeve 92 is a pressure chamber 95 connected by conduit 96 with groove 97 of the bore 98 in which slides the plunger 45. Formed in the bore and circumscribing the plunger are the additional grooves 52 and 99. As has been previously mentioned, the groove 52 is coupled by conduit 46 with the pump or pressure source 47 so that when plunger 45 is in a depressed position its cannelure or groove 100 will couple pressure through groove 97 and conduit 96 with the chamber 95 to move and hold the piston 93 upward for rapid traverse operation of the table or slide in a direction determined by the position of rock shaft 30 and reverser controlling rod 28. This inward or depressing movement of plunger 45 is effectible by engagement of the dog 101 with its outer projecting end.

The forward or left hand end of the plunger 45 as viewed in Figure 6 is connected by a pivot 102 with link 103 pivotally mounted in the block 38 by rock shaft 104 and having its opposite end connected to pivot 105 carried by the forward or left hand end of the plunger 44. The plunger 44 itself constitutes purely a power r transmitter without valving action but is provided with the detent grooves 106 and 107 for selective engagement with the spring detent or ball 108 inwardly actuated as by spring 109. This detent serves to lock the plunger 44 and thus through link 103 the plunger 45 either in its extended position as shown in Figure 6, or alternatively in retracted position with the plunger 44 in projected position. When the plunger 44 is in projected position it is adapted for engagement by dog 110 carried by the table. Such engagement will force plunger 44 into the retracted position shown in Figure 6 and thus move plunger 45 to the position shown in Figures 2 and 6. In this position, conduit 96 to the rapid traverse control piston 93 is coupled by 97, 167-68 to reservoir so that the plunger assumes feed establishing position. When plunger 45 is dog depressed it will be locked in position for maintaining rapid traverse action in a direction determined by the reverser of the transmission until such time as the plunger 44 is engaged and depressed to restore feeding action. Alternatively, the rapid traverse action may be controlled by handle 111 secured to the uppereend ofi' roeknsha'ft elfldeforeacwationnofimemberr 45;:andzits associated-marten In addition to this combined manual and dog controlzofzt rapidt/traverse,=- additional ameanst-rhauetbeenzproyided for effecting automatic institution:/of..1a'apid. :traverse-twhen; desired: inieonneetionwwithi-the lautomatic reversal, :For accomplishmentr-rofathisresult thereuhasi:beenaprovided: imthe block;-59 the pressure groovesallflr andillncircum-zx scribingtheiboresfor.theplungersflfl andrSlaindwconpledr by branch pressuret:linezilldrwvith theapumpnfla There: have additionally-beempronided thetgrooves:115r21ndz115; coupled mandate-b.1111..- withitthenreturn-zor :exhaust eondliit t681f Intermediately couplednwithathe i'bOlCS loffzthel plangenflflfihas 1at'1118'andt'119r is .conduitt lzuieXtfllldlflgl tqpigtomplungeprllh .Thieplungenisslidahlyimounted: in the block. :38 ton tang; igementz with therlinkz B diner-s; mediate ipivot=1021 and shaft. 1104 so that: pressurel'against: thCgg-PlflGflrWll-li project the same from theposition i shown inaFignre 6 :ztOx rock member:-103,.--thus moving nplunger. 45tinto rapid. traversqposition; c :Arlltghl z spring 2122 non-r mally;retainsathegplungerwaga inst-link1103 :as; indicated in Figure-'6. The -1Jlllng6tk70 riS providedn with-:an .inter-. mediate; .cannelure lol J connecting groove :123 .-:and s the plunger-.81 'withua groover-LlMmfi-sueh, length and \extent: thatnwhen either '70 era-81 is rin-.-t-he 1161111312011 stop posi tionconduita120 is connec-tedby vvayrpf.zthe .groove. to: exhaust conduit 68 so that no pressure exists against the,- piston, element .5121, as ,-is indicated din-Figure, i2. Whenzeither plunger #0701 8 nlS;: PIOjCt6d1-10'ffifffi6ll426-; versal of .1 the drive transmission :by oscillation 13ft: the.- members :7230-the grooveofiathet projectedrr plunger will-then connectpressure cotiduitr114 with; conduit. 120,- introducin gapressure against sthe" zpistoni 121=andaat 51116 same: ,time blocking on? the. 1 associated exhaust groovesuch las.1 16. At i-the samewt-inie,-. the opposite plunger. '10 .or"81 will, be moved by the oscillation of 72 to: a; :posi tion-such as-lshownuin Figurevti so that-itsintermediate: cann'elu'retis but o'f'aalignment .with itherintermeidiate piston: pressure. control. groove 119116112118 =so that-the body: of thhe'plunger blocks, flow byq-wayof-ithe depressedwplunger. toexha'hst, causing. the necessaryaaetuating pressuresto: be btiiltlnp in'.:.condnit-, .-120.r.-The arelative positioning' of. plungers 70 .and ,31 ton eeffdet-ing i-this: result is ashown- .t'or. coimterclockwiseoscillatian oftthe, :member-..7 2 or change. fromjimovement-iof thetabletoward the-r; .zto-movementl. .of. thee tabletowartd the aleft in;Eigur 8, so sill-Kt: with this relationship :of. ithezpartsthererwillinot onlylbe -.a reversal of. direction zblitpasconcomitantr change fromifeed; righttoirapidltraversereturn. 31 When-:the rchange is made. fromifeed lefttomovementtinta night hand direction; the

position )ofi'the plungersJflandz-SL willbetreversed sozithat; r

the membev379LwilLconple thepressure-actuating:medidm: tojthe piston..plungertmlrwhilerthe plunger 70! will; block: ofi'the' reservoir return as respects; g-11oovevI-119:- zlt lwi'llp of course, be evident that this connection in of the rapid traversetakesplace onlywvhen; 'plunger l-tlt or 81 is free for movement automatically to..efect .actuation of the reversing meoh'anism, but*-that there is no automatic rapid traverse effect by movement of the plungers-so long asfit-he abutments 79 are in position to-.l;imit thezadvance toz-aistop prmeutral position only-of the emember 72;.as rearward ornleft hand deflection. as, .-pointed out;, merely bloeks"olf the-now as" respects condui =120 'JAddit'i" "lly, in'the event it shouldabezdesiredato'efiiect automat-icQreversafl without use of rapid traverse; .a'valve ILZSinay bel prov'ide'd to shut on fiowz through the conduit 120;; rendering pressure "ineffective-as. respects tplnnger The commercial niilliiig machine. embodiment: selected for thelgpurpose of illustration .ofUithe-zapplicationwand utiliiation ofgthe present"'inventioi1 has been particularly illustratedin 'Figurel, although it will be understood that the features hereinabovc described are capable of utilization in connection with various known types of milling mcahines. As there illustrated, however, the machine is provided with a conventional table power control lever 29 which in intermediate position disconnects the power drive from the table and shifted in one direction or the other operates by suitable means such as a clutch, not shown, for coupling the drive transmission to actuate the table toward the left or toward the right through movement of the shift bar 28. This movement is likewise controllable by the second control or starting and stopping lever 129 at the front of the machine. Additionally, the manually actuable lever 35 is provided which, when hand depressed, as against a suitable spring (not shown) will throw outntbeieed:reluteheofnthe: transmission nand'ntem-s pqrari-lyreonnectra-rapid traversezdr-iveator effecting move.=;

mechanism. This: cit-reflecting: what is 't'kllm as intermittentvfeedron successive rapid: trawersea andzcutting rate or. feeding anovemen-tiofn-the:tablezlunidirectionallycor.-

in both direct-ions',-..dependingzom thevparticulammilling operationwtol be :performed: and whether but a, singlerwerk I piece, esuch as: :27- shown; sin .2Figure:..1, is :being operated upon;- or :a pluralityeof Work-pieces inwhiehit is desired" to move at-a rapidiratewbetweencuttingrstationss: I-n'such conventional .milling nachineswit 2-has vbeen: customary: to use idogsg onthe table directly to. actuate a mechanical-drip I mechanism ,orload fire device-suchias indicated inparticuev lar in -Figure '4 1 -for;- determining wstopping :on-reversal 20f. table movementr It has:beennfound,. however ithatathis' is.frequentlywobjectionable in:that the resistance :anddrag between: trip :dog and; ttrip ,mechanism and; any relative play int-the :motionmransmitting meehanismrmayzresnltzink inaccuracies of :operation;

The present. invention: has;;there'fore, eliminated these ditfieultiesnby providingv the series-:ofado.g actuable ifreelyt sliding: lungers =afifordingzresistanee :onlyof .the slighttpro jecting springs as: shown for the-plungers:- and lbj/"lIlCOF-Si poration 10f .valve'meansuin:these-afreelyesliding plungers is able tomaket use of'zeitherzseparate on availableihyd-ranlici poWen-fon :effeoting instantaneous-itpositive movement-10f the reversingtmechanism aHClulS likewisezablectoueffectz eithern independent ..dog controlledriengflig ment 1, and CIe' leaset-of -the' rapid: traverses.mechanism-empower effected: combined;-.reverse :andnrapidstraverse movementsuin a mostpositive ,andwhighly ,iaccurate 'itnannernanotz-snbjectt to:.\the- .-limitations:of previous [mechanical structures.

t It twilhxtherefone, :beanoted thatnthevinventionninnits entirety: includesta hand iselectori IfOljfEGdi or :rapid traverseby;.power operation rofn'exist-ing -elernents tin i-the' milling: machine, :together :with; dog aoperable rzmeanswfor; addi tionally contmfllingsuch seiector;:rnechanismnby: suitable; conditionings of the? hydraulic control. system. It (8180. includes,- .-in :addition atot the normal .-han'd l determination ofiteedright, feed-left orrstopzmovements oft'the table .or translatable element, such mechanism: beingibroadlyire-t ferred teas the reverseremechanims, a hydraulic operating meehanism aadditive tothe rnorinal :hand :controls :tor.

effecting several positionings; of'ntheareverser, :together with free moving: dog operated'plungcrs forideterminingr the selective 'positioningsaof the: reversen: Additionally,

and tin connection with this i hydraulic :meehanisnnrthere hasibeen provided :mea-ns -.for.i-varia bly: determining.-;the

amount of movement of the reverser actuatingsmechanism for selectively effecting stopping or reversingamovements and coupled ;-thei-'ew-ith hydraulic :mechanismufor. concomitantlyand connection With.=;a .singlez-rmovementt :of. a controlggilungenor: element :activating both the ireverser and the rapid; traverses which mechanism is independent ofethe previouslyineferred {to irapidet-raversercontrolrdevice; and insures proper-simultaneous;actuation:of. thelelements without i-losswf =time=ior possible failure OfQOPSQTQfL'iOIL'EOf' one. tor. :the other whemdependence is place'd on individual, dogs forseparating-iefiecting; cachet:thetransrnissionrate and directionchanges-onmodifications;

. Operation With the. variouscontrols-jnst :described practicallyllany desired type. of operating. cycle Imay .benetfe'cted. .IFor exampleyistarting ,With .the.tab1e..at..eithcr..the r'ightlor. the left, a, simple cycle .imay .berpe r'fortned. of .rapid.'.ad-. va-nceiof the work totithemcutter,feedzof the work pastthe c"u'tter,. 1'apid return. and stop: Alternative: cycles ,may. includea 'cha'nge on the return stroke'from rapid return to feed and subsequent stopping or rapid reverse to an intermediate stop point, an intermittent feeding, such as rapid traverse, feed, second rapid traverse and feed, and reverse at rapid traverse and stop; or a rapid traverse, feed, reverse feed, rapid traverse and stop, depending on the several adjustments of the control dogs for engagement with the respective plungers and of the positioning of the limiting abutments 79 for determination of the ultimate movement of the plungers 70 and 81.

Considering a simple cycle, such as advantageously utilizable in connection with the work piece 27 shown in Figure 1 it will be understood that the cycle starts with the table 39 in ,a right hand position away from the cutter a sufficient distance that the work piece may be readily mounted and clamped in position upon the table. The system may be then continued through movement of selector lever 127 on rock shaft 104 to depress plunger 45 and raise plunger 44, thus coupling hydraulic actuating medium with piston 93 holding the rapid traverse clutch in engagement with the drive transmission. The work having been clamped, by actuation of start lever 29 or 129 the main power connecting reverser clutch mechanism previously in neutral position is directionally shifted to initiate power movement of the table toward the left. So long as plunger 45 is depressed this will be at a rapid traverse rate. However, as the Work approaches cutting position, dog 110 will depress plunger 44, coupling the hydraulic conduit 96 to return conduit 68 when the table will continue to move to the left. At this time, the several plungers will occupy the position shown in Figure 2. As the work is completed, dog 67 will engage and depress plunger 43. If the abutment 79 is in its inward position the action of the hydraulic actuating medium through conduit 62 will move plunger 81 against the abutment, during this movement rocking member 72 sufficiently so that it will. snap past the detent at 86 into neutral or stop position. If, however, the abutment is withdrawn the hydraulic pressure will completely project plunger 81, effecting additional clockwise movement of 72 to effect complete movement of the reverser for power drive of the table by the transmission in the opposite direction. This additional forward movement of the plunger 81 will couple power conduit 114 by Way of groove 124 with conduit 120, thus projecting piston plunger 121 and moving plunger 45 again into position to couple 46 with 96. In this manner simultaneous actuation of reversal of direction and change from feed to rapid traverse rate is automatically effected by movement of a single control plunger and integral valving means. The table 22 will then move at rapid traverse rate to the right to its original loading position, at which point depression of plunger 42 by dog 66 will connect power line 46 by way of groove 53 with the piston portion of plunger 81 which will then kick the member 72 into its intermediate or neutral position, assuming that the stop block 79 limits the movement of the plunger so that reversal is not effected.

Attainment of any of the other cycles described requires no additional mechanism or change in the structural elements illustrated but may be readily effected merely by variations in position of the abutment or stop elements such as 79 and the positioning of the several dogs along the table slot for engagement as desired at selected positions with the respective control plungers actuable thereby.

What is claimed is:

1. An attachment for a milling machine to control the cycle of movement thereof, said attachment including a valve block, a pair of control plungers carried by the valve block, each of said plungers having a valve portion, a reverser actuating mechanism including a pair of piston elements, hydraulic connections between the valve portions of each of the plungers and one of said piston elements whereby the operation of said piston element is individually controlled by the connected plunger, said attachment including a rate selecting plunger, each of the pistons having a valve portion shiftable upon movement of the piston alternatively into a circuit completing or a circuit interrupting position, a pressure circuit coupled with both of said piston valve portions, and a hydraulic actuating circuit for said rate selecting plunger including conduit means having branches individually connecting the valve portion of each piston with the rate selecting plunger whereby movement of either of said pistons and its associate valve portion individually controls the coupling of the pressure circuit and the hydraulic actuating circuit by way of the valve portion with said plunger.

2. An attachment fora milling machine to control the cycle of movement thereof, said attachment including a valve block, a pair of control plungers carried by the valve block, each of said plungers having a valve portion, a reverser actuating mechanism including a pair of piston elements, hydraulic connections between the valve portions of each of the plungers and one of said piston elements whereby the operation of said piston element is individually controlled by the connected plunger, said attachment including a rate selecting plunger, each of the pistons having a valve portion shiftable upon movement of the piston alternatively into a circuit completmg or a circuit interrupting position, a pressure circuit coupled with both of said piston valve portions, a hydraulic actuating circuit for said plunger including conduit means having branches individually connecting the valve portion of each piston with the rate selecting plunger whereby movement of either of said pistons and its associate valve portion individually controls the coupling of the pressure circuit and the hydraulic actuating cir cuit by way of the'valve portion with said plunger, and selector means for determining the extent of movement of an individual piston element and its associated valve portion.

3. An attachment for a milling machine to control the cycle of movement thereof, said attachment including a valve block, a pair of control plungers carried by the valve block, each of said plungers having a valve portion, a reverser actuating mechanism including a pair of piston elements, hydraulic connections between the valve portions of each of the plungers and one of said piston elements whereby the operation of said piston element is individually controlled by the connected plunger, said attachment including a rate selecting plunger, each of the pistons having a valve portion shiftable upon movement of the piston alternatively into a circuit completing or a circuit interrupting position, a pressure circuit coupled with both of said piston valve portions, a hydraulic actuating circuit for said plunger including conduit means having branches individually connecting the valve portion of each piston with the rate selecting plunger whereby movement of either of said pistons and its assoclate valve portion individually controls the coupling of the pressure circuit and the hydraulic actuating circuit by way of the valve portion with said plunger, selector means for determining the extent of movement of an ndividual piston element and its associated valve portrom-and additional valve means in the actuating circuit between the piston valve portions and the rate selector plunger for determining the effectiveness of the hydraullc actuating circuit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 795,024 Case July 18, 1905 1,251,563 ODonnell Ian. 1, 1918 1,330,557 Simmon et al Feb. 10, 1920 1,733,784 Dinzl Oct. 29, 1929 2,082,140 Bennett June 1, 1937 2,120,196 Wright June 7, 1938 2,275,241 Armitage Mar. 3, 1942 2,363,706 Svenson Nov. 28, 1944 2,379,306 Larson June 26, 1945 2,489,227 Roehm Nov. 22, 1949 2,533,753 Armitage Dec. 12, 1950 2,605,748 Rasoletti Aug. 5, 1952 

